Sixers called top 2019 NBA free-agent destination

Sixers called top 2019 NBA free-agent destination

The 2019 NBA free agency class is going to be loaded with talent. And that’s great news for the Philadelphia 76ers, who are set to have a massive amount of salary cap space.

After missing on LeBron James this offseason and seeing Kawhi Leonard traded to the Toronto Raptors, the Sixers opted to change course. Instead of building for the future this offseason, they acquired solid players on expiring contracts, such as Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala, while also trading a few players to get them off the books ahead of next offseason.

In turn, the Sixers can make a run at someone like Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson or even Kevin Durant in 2019 free agency. While the bulk of those players will need to opt out of their current deals, it’s expected most will choose to go that route.

But when the free agent market begins to build, just how appealing will Philly be as a possible destination? Based on their talented young core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and Markelle Fultz, among others, it looks good on paper.

1. Philadelphia 76ers

Philly is young and talented and flexible. It can carve out max space without touching its core of Robert Covington, Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz, Dario Saric, Ben Simmons, Zhaire Smith and next year’s draft pick. This roster is a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package waiting to happen.

Failing to land a big fish this summer would not inform the future. For those who think it will, please remember that Philly, unlike most other teams, earned a meeting with James’ people. That means something. James says so.

“I definitely thought long and hard about the possibilities about lining up alongside Ben and Embiid,” he said, per The Athletic’s Alykhan Bijani.

Next year will be a better barometer for Philly’s curb appeal. This summer’s class was light on gettable superstars after George and James—the former of whom did not entertain offers except from Oklahoma City. The Sixers should be commended for pivoting in a way that neither lowered their immediate ceiling nor jeopardized their 2019 spending power.

This evaluation is pretty spot on, and it’s hard to argue with the points made.

Sure, maybe the meeting James’ camp gave the Sixers truly had no meaning behind it, but he’s saying otherwise. All along, though, fans knew they had an uphill battle to beat out the Los Angeles Lakers for LeBron.

But next offseason, the landscape is going to look drastically different. The Sixers could very well be running the show in free agency, or at the very least, battling at the top with the Lakers.

Philly is going to get their next superstar during the 2019 offseason. Brett Brown said free agency is star-hunting season, and we know he’s a man of his word.